Undergraduate: Course rule and topic information

Bachelor of Education (Junior Primary/Primary)/Bachelor of Science

(BEd(JP/P),BSc)

Program of study
Honours degree

INTRODUCTION

The Bachelor of Education (Junior Primary/Primary)/Bachelor of Science may be taken as a double degree program in four years full-time (or the equivalent part-time). Students who study part-time would normally be expected to complete the double degree program within eight years. The course is offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities, Law and Theology and the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

The double degree program of Bachelor of Education (Junior Primary/Primary)/Bachelor of Science requires completion of a total of 144 units.

Eligible students can complete an honours degree in either Science or Education. Enrolment in the honours program is subject to the school/department being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study.

COURSE AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to produce graduates who:

• are prepared to participate in a world that requires high levels of scientific, mathematical and technological literacy;
• can teach within and across learning areas at junior primary/primary levels of schooling (Reception to Year 7);
• have developed studies in depth in at least two science disciplines of their choice;
• are able to apply their knowledge and skills in a range of educational settings with diverse groups of students; and
• have the capacity to undertake ongoing professional study through a variety of pathways.

Learning outcomes

In undertaking the double degree program, students will:

• achieve high levels of knowledge and understanding of the content, context and processes of learning and teaching within the school environment and engage critically with this knowledge as a means of ongoing professional practice;
• develop knowledge of, and skills in, curriculum including the areas of science, mathematics and technology;
• reflect critically on different teaching theories and practices, on their own teaching, and on their lives in order to strive for excellence and creativity in their teaching role;
• use a wide range of literacies with confidence and competence;
• apply educational theory, knowledge and understanding to make informed professional judgements in diverse educational situations;
• work collaboratively with colleagues, school students, their families and the wider community towards achieving high quality learning outcomes;
• establish a firm educational and scientific foundation for ongoing professional development and lifelong learning;
• achieve the knowledge and understanding that different disciplines provide and also work across disciplinary boundaries to actively create cross-curriculum links; and
• appreciate the need for continuing professional development in science and education.

COURSE RULE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Limited credit may be granted for relevant topics taken at the University or other institutions.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2008]

To qualify for the Bachelor of Education (Junior Primary/Primary)/Bachelor of Science students must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

EITHER OPTION A: *

A Bachelor of Education component of 69 units which must include:

• First Year Education topics: 9 units
• Upper Level Education topics: 60 units (ten 6-unit topics)

A Bachelor of Science component of 75 units which must include:

• First Year Science topics: 27 units
• Science Major: 36 units (at Second and Third Year level)
• Science Minor: 12 units (at Second and Third Year level)

OR OPTION B: *

A Bachelor of Education component of 75 units which must include:

• First Year Education topics: 9 units
• Upper Level Education topics: 66 units (eleven 6-unit topics)

A Bachelor of Science component of 69 units which must include:

• First Year Science topics: 27 units
• Science Major: 30 units (at Second and Third Year level)
• Science Minor: 12 units (at Second and Third Year level)

OR OPTION C: *

A Bachelor of Education component of 69 units which must include:

• First Year Education topics: 9 units
• Upper Level Education topics: 60 units (ten 6-unit topics)

• First Year Science topics: 27 units
• Science Teaching Major 1: 24 units (at Second and Third Year level)
• Science Teaching Major 2: 24 units (at Second and Third Year level)

* In order to be eligible for consideration for BSc(Hons) students must take Option A. In order to be eligible for consideration for the accelerated BEd(Hons) students must take Option B with the eleventh 6-unit Education topic being a compulsory pre-honours topic.

Students not wishing to be considered for Honours in either award may choose any option.

In summary: students who undertake Option A will not normally be eligible to be considered for admittance to the accelerated honours in Education. Students who undertake Option B will not normally be eligible to be considered for admittance to honours in Science. Students who undertake Option C will not normally be eligible to be considered for admittance to honours in Science or honours in Education.

A topic that is counted towards a major may not also be counted towards a minor.

A student must pass 18 units of First Year level science topics before enrolling in any Second Year level Science topics and 27 units of First Year level Science topics before enrolling in any Third Year level Science topics.

Except with the permission of the Board:

• no compulsory topic may be taken more than twice;
• teaching practicum topics may not be attempted more than once.

Students should note that teaching practicum topics require full-time commitment for their duration.

Bachelor of Science component: program of study.

Bachelor of Education component: program of study

First Year

Semester 1

First Year Science topic	4.5
First Year Science topic	4.5
First Year Science topic	4.5

EDUC1101

Key Educational Ideas

4.5

Semester 2

First Year Science topic	4.5
First Year Science topic	4.5
First Year Science topic	4.5

EDUC1201

Ways of Explaining Education

4.5

Second Year

Semester 1

Science major/minor topics*	3/6
Science major/minor topics*	3/6

EDUC2301

Literacy and Numeracy in Inclusive Primary School Classrooms

6

Semester 2

Science major/minor topics*	3/6
Science major/minor topics*	3/6

EDUC2402

Development, Learning and Inclusive Teaching (R-7)

6

Third Year

Semester 1

Science major/minor topics*	3/6
Science major/minor topics*	3/6

EDUC3501	The Expressive Arts: English, Visual Art, Design Technology, Drama, Media and Music	6
EDUC3666A	Lecture for Professional Teaching Practice 3A (R-7)	0

Semester 2

	Education elective topic from approved list	6
EDUC3607	Curriculum Studies Junior Primary/Primary 3 (Science and Physical Education Focus)	6

Non-semester

EDUC3666

Professional Teaching Practice 3A(R-7)

6

Fourth Year

Semester 1

EDUC4704	Curriculum Studies JPP Mathematics, Society and the Environment and Health	6
EDUC4705	Social and Cultural Worlds of Learning	6

Non-semester

EDUC4777

Professional Teaching Practice 4A (R-7)

6

Semester 2

	Either Option A: Science topic	6
	OR Option B: Education topic	6
	OR Option C: Science topic (with no honours option in Science or Education	6
EDUC4802	Teaching Indigenous Australian Students	6

* Consult the BSc course coordinator.

Honours degree

1. A full-year program consisting of 36 units of dedicated honours topics taken after the completion of the student's ordinary education degree.
2. An alternative program for students who have completed, to a sufficiently high standard (a GPA of 5.5 or higher), the first 108 units towards their particular Bachelor of Education double degree program. Admission will also depend upon the School of Education being able to provide adequate resources to supervise and manage the student's proposed research project. The general requirement of the Honours program in Education is the successful completion of 36 units of honours Education topics. However, in the alternative program, students will take 18 of these units concurrently with the relevant double degree program as part of their fourth year of study. An overload of 6 units will be required in each semester of that year. Eligible students will enrol in a three-semester program commencing in the fourth year of their double degree program.

Year 4

Semester 1 (6-unit overload)

EDUC7000	Introduction to Research in Education (Honours Topic)	6
EDUC4704	Curriculum Studies: JPP Mathematics, Society and the Environment and Health	6
EDUC4777	Professional Teaching Practice 4A (R-7)	6
EDUC4705	Social and Cultural Worlds of Learning	6

Semester 2 (6-unit overload)

EDUC7001	Research Methods in Education: Directed Study (Honours Topic)	6
EDUC7002	Preparation for Research Thesis (Honours Topic)	6
EDUC4802	Teaching Indigenous Australian Students	6
	BSc topic	6

Year 5

Semester 1

EDUC7003

Honours Thesis in Education (Honours Topic)

18

Note that students may apply to undertake an honours degree in either Education or Science. However, in order to be eligible for consideration for the BSc(Hons) students must take Option A. Conversely, to be eligible for consideration to the alternative BEd(Hons) students must take Option B with the eleventh 6-unit Education topic being a compulsory pre-honours topic. Students not wishing to be considered for BSc(Hons) or the alternative BEd(Hons) may choose any option from Option A, Option B or Option C.